Mounting for separable fasteners



Dec. 15,1936. R KE 2,064,180

MOUNTING FOR SEPARABLE FASTENERS- F iled Dec. 23, 1935 6 I INVENTOR.

' lows E0044: BY

Patented Dec. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES 2,004,180 MOUNTING. ron 'snrananmFASTENERS Louis Rocke, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Alphonsus J.Donahue, Stamford, Conn.

Application December 88,1935, Serial No. 55,718

3 Claim.

This invention relates to-improvements in separable fasteners and hasparticular reference to a mounting therefor.

An object of the invention is to provide a simpie and practicalseparable fastener assembly whereinthe mounting for thefastener elementsincludes a covering therefor having aposition relative to said elementswhich willjeffectively con-* ceal same and present asubstantially flatstructure which will impart a neat and attractive appearance to anarticle to which the assembly is applied. t

Another object is to form each mounting strip for a series of fastenerelements with supporting and covering flaps which are Joined by anelastic medium in such manner that the latter will act as an expansiblehinge between said flaps which will, at all times, resist any tendencyof the coyering flap to move to an uncovering position relative to-saidelements.

The above and other objects will appear more clearlyfrom the followingdetailed description when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.-

In the drawing: Q a

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, illustrating a separablefastener assembly constructed in accordance with the present inven- 80tion.

Figure 2 is a transverse section showing the normal position of thecovering flaps, and

Figure 3 is a similar view illustrating the manner in which the flapsare raised as the sliding memberof the fastener is moved beneath thesame to join and separate the fastener elements.

It will be understood that the invention is ap- -plicable to varioustypes of separable fasteners wherein a slider or locking element isemployed to join and disconnect two series or groups of fasteningelements each carried by different portions of wearing apparel and otherarticles. Such separable fasteners usually include flexible strips ofwoven fabric, similar to the strips 4 shown in the drawing, each ofwhich is attached in any preferred manner to a portion of the article onwhich the assembly is used, and carries along one of its edges a row orseries of fastener elements 50 other strip 4 by a slider 6. When sojoined, it is notable that with the ordinary type of fasteners 5 adaptedto be joined to the elements oftheforded protection against conditionswhich might otherwise tend to injure the same or hinder the freeseparation thereof by said slider.

Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, it is proposed toprovide a covering for 5 the fastener'elements-S that will adequatelyconceal and protect the same, and which will satisfactorily maintain itsoperative position relative to said elements under varying conditions. Apreferred method of accomplishing this result is 10 to divide the innerportion or edge of each of the flexible strips l-into flaps l and 8 thecombined thickness of which may be substantially that of the remainderof the strip. The flap J is utilized to support or carry the elements Iof one series, 15 while the flap 8 constitutes a cover for said ele-,ments. The width of each flap 8 of the two strips 4 is such that thefree inner edges of the flaps meet-and thus combine to extend entirelyacross and conceal the elements 5 and their respective in effect,hingedly connected at their line of junc- 25 ture and the flaps 8 maythus be swung outwardly should occasion require that they be adjustedtoward an uncovering position relative to the elements 5, such as whenthe slider 8 is operated. However, in the normal condition of the flaps8, with the fastener elements 5 locked together or separated, said flapsare caused to lie snugly against said elements and assumes substantiallyflat position across the space which would otherwise be exposed if said,flaps were not provided. To this end, it is proposed to introducebetween the flaps. I and 8 of each strip 4, a medium which will resistany separating movement of one flap relative to the other and thusmaintain the flap 8 40 in its normal operative relation to the fastenerelements and restore said flap to. such position after it has beenraised, as by the passage of the slider 8 thereunder. Preferably, saidmedium takes the form of an elastic binder 8 of rubber cement or othersuitable material which is applied in a relatively thin coating to theunder or inner surface of each flap 8. When so applied to said surface,the material acts to bind together the strands of the woven fabric ofthe flap and, in 60 so doing, maintains the flap in a substantially flatcondition and actsto restore it to such condition should it be bentoutwardly. Said binder also prevents stretching of the material andoutward curling of the free edge of the flap which might otherwise occurafter considerable usage, espe cially when the fastener assembly is usedon footwear and subjected to various conditions of weather. In fact, thebinder will have a tendency to cause the flap to turn inwardly or, atleast, maintain it in. a substantially flat condition. The elasticbinder is also employed as ahinge connection between the flaps I and 8,and, to this end, is applied to the crotch formed at the juncture ofsaid flaps where it is thickened as indicated at I0. In this manner asubstantial amount of the binder will be present to increase theretractile eifect thereof upon the flap 8 should the latter be swungoutwardly with a consequent stretching of said thickened portion. Thusthe restoration and maintenance of said flap in its substantially fiat,covering position is assured.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with opposed series of separable fastener elementsand a slide for joining and separating said series; of a strip for eachseries of elements including supporting and covering flaps therefor withthe inner edges of said flaps meeting to form a crotch therebetween, andan elastic coating binding said flaps together at said crotch andextending at least partially over the inner opposed surfaces of theflaps, said coating being expansible at said crotch when the flaps aremoved apart.

ing and separating said series; of a strip for each series of elementsincluding supporting and covering flaps therefor with the inner edges ofsaid flaps meeting to form a crotch therebetween, and an elastic coatingbinding said flaps together at said crotch and extending at leastpartially over the inner opposed surfaces of the flaps, said coatingbeing thickened at said crotch to form an expansible hinge joint betweensaid flaps effective to yieldably maintain the covering flap inoperative relation to its associated series of fastening elements.

3. The combination with opposed series of separable fastener elementsand a slide for joining and separating said series; of a mounting stripfor each series made of woven material dividedalong one edge to formsupporting and covering flaps for said series of elements, and a.relatively thin coating of a binder for the woven material of saidcovering flap applied to the inner surface thereof and extended into thejuncture between said flaps where said coating is thickened and joinedto said supporting flap to constitute a retractile hinge connectionbetween said flaps.

LOUIS ROCKE.

